What is automatic supplier switching and how can it save you money

In short: with automatic switching, a service compares market tariffs for you and, with your authorisation, switches supplier whenever it finds a better offer.

What is automatic switching?

It is a way to make sure you are always on the best energy contract. You enter a few details about yourself and your home, and an algorithm analyses the market's tariffs. According to Trafero, that is more than 20,000 tariffs, taking into account factors such as consumption, region and meter type, to fit the offer to each user.

So, is it a comparison site?

No. There are two differences:

• An automatic switching service does everything for you: it does not just show options, it handles the comparison and the switch, with nothing for you to do.
• Comparison sites do not always search the whole market: many only show offers that pay them a commission. See how suppliers work and how to switch at no cost.

Why is it needed?

According to Trafero, many households are on their suppliers' most expensive tariffs because they have not switched for over a year, or never have. The energy sector penalises loyalty. Many people know that switching regularly helps keep a good tariff, but end up putting the task off. Traditional comparison sites and even some trusted bodies may also receive commissions from suppliers, which raises the question: who can you trust?

How did Trafero start?

Cristian Tanase arrived in Portugal several years ago and became frustrated with the lack of transparency in the energy industry. He built a service that checks market prices, free of any commission deals that could affect impartiality, and founded Trafero in 2024.

How does Trafero's algorithm work?

You only need to register once. That gives us the data needed to look after your energy for as long as you wish. Registration takes about 4 minutes.

"After that, our algorithm searches market tariffs every day. It is different from comparison sites and many competitors, which only let you switch to tariffs that pay them a commission. Commission-based tariffs tend to be more expensive." - Cristian Tanase, founder of Trafero

When a better tariff exists, Trafero switches the contract automatically. You receive an email with the details of the switch and have 14 days to say whether you want to cancel it. After the first switch, the algorithm keeps looking for an even better tariff.

To use the service you need a smart meter. If you do not have one yet, you can request it from E-REDES (see who runs electricity distribution).

Frequently asked questions

Do I still control my bill?

Yes. You can choose the type of tariff (for example green energy, fixed or variable price), see your current and previous tariff details in your dashboard and exclude suppliers you do not want to switch to. Before each switch you receive every detail: supplier, tariff and saving.

How often do people switch?

It depends on consumption and the possible saving. The energy market is very active and competitive offers appear often. When we find one that brings you a saving, we let you know and you can decide whether it makes sense.

How much does it cost?

Trafero is free. Automatic switching is for people who want to save money but lack the time or patience to compare and switch. Run the free simulation and see an estimate.